Cart wheel structure

Abstract

A cart wheel structure having a pair of wheels rotatably mounted to opposite ends of an axle rod. The axle rod is mounted to a base portion of a cart by a pair of fabricated brackets having an upstanding swivel post adapted to be received in swivel cavities provided on the cart base portion. The swivel cavities are adapted to receive the swivel post of conventional swivel caster whereby the cart may be provided with caster and non-caster wheels as desired. The cooperation between the axle rod and brackets provides an accurate maintained disposition of the wheels carried on the opposite distal ends of the axle rod.

I claim: 
     
       1. A cart wheel structure comprising: cart support structure defining first and second horizontally spaced, downwardly opening sockets;   first and second axle rod mounting brackets, each bracket having a base portion, a pair of horizontally spaced depending axle rod support walls having aligned openings therethrough, and an upstanding cylindrical post, the post of said first bracket being rotatably received in said first socket and the post of said second bracket being rotatably received in said second socket;   means on said support structure and posts for releasably retaining said posts in said sockets against axial displacement therefrom;   first and second wheels;   means for retaining said brackets against rotation comprising an axle rod extending through the holes of each of said support walls, said axle rod defining opposite ends projecting outwardly from the outboard support walls of said pair of brackets; and   means for rotatably retaining said wheels one each on said opposite ends of the axle rod.   
     
     
       2. The cart wheel structure of claim 1 wherein said rod is right circularly cylindrical. 
     
     
       3. The cart wheel structure of claim 1 wherein said wheels have a diameter greater than the height of said mounting brackets. 
     
     
       4. The cart wheel structure of claim 1 wherein said post defines a vertical axis and said aligned axle rod support wall opening define a common axis intersecting said post vertical axis. 
     
     
       5. The cart wheel structure of claim 1 wherein the spacing between said axle rod support walls is substantially greater than the diameter of said cylindrical post. 
     
     
       6. The cart wheel structure of claim 1 wherein said post defines a vertical axis centered between said axle and support walls. 
     
     
       7. The cart wheel structure of claim 1 wherein said axle rod support wall openings are circular. 
     
     
       8. The cart wheel structure of claim 1 wherein means are provided on said opposite ends of the axle rod for preventing axial displacement of said axle rod. 
     
     
       9. A cart wheel structure comprising: a base portion defining downwardly opening similar sockets;   a pair of swivel caster wheels each having a swivel post; and   a wheel assembly having an axle rod, wheels rotatably mounted to opposite ends of said axle rod and a pair of brackets each having a swivel post, said brackets being mounted in spaced relationship on said axle rod, said swivel casters being mounted to said cart base portion with the swivel posts thereof swivelly mounted on each in selected ones of said sockets, and said brackets being mounted to said cart base portion with the swivel posts thereof mounted one each in different selected ones of said sockets while being retained against swivelling by said axle rod.   
     
     
       10. The cart wheel structure of claim 9 wherein means are provided for releasably retaining said bracket swivel posts in said sockets. 
     
     
       11. The cart wheel structure of claim 9 wherein said wheels of said wheel assembly comprise wheels substantially larger in diameter than swivel caster wheels.